There was a nervous wait in arts organisations across Bristol today as Arts Council England announced who they would be funding over the next four years. It was good news for the big boys, including the Watershed and Old Vic, whose funding will be continued, but not so great news for St George’s, who have had their funding stopped.
Three groups in Bristol – the Tobacco Factory Theatre, Knowle West Media Centre and Theatre Bristol – will be receiving funding for the first time.
Other Bristol arts organisations who will be happy today as their Arts Council funding until 2015 has been secured are the Arnolfini, Circomedia, Bristol Cultural Development Partnership, Inbetween Time Festival, Spike Island, St Paul’s Carnival, Travelling Light Theatre Company and the Architecture Centre.
It is unclear where today’s news leaves St George’s (right), regularly cited as one of the UK’s best venues acoustically. Without Arts Council funding, the former church off Park Street will unlikely be able to host big name acts in the near future. Not that this has been their way of doing things in recent years, however, with a particular emphasis placed on foreign music, especially as part of their Migrations strand.
Bristol Old Vic artistic director Tom Morris said that he was “deeply sympathetic” towards St George’s not being accepted into Arts Council England’s national portfolio and that the Old Vic “look forward to finding ways to collaborate with them and support their programme as best we can”.
Looking at the Old Vic’s funding, he said: “Bristol Old Vic will continue to produce work of the highest quality, to support the development of local artists, and to deliver a programme of outreach to the varied communities of Bristol. Our capital redevelopment is underway, on time and on budget, and we look forward to continuing our role as a major player in the growth of our culturally vibrant city.”
Watershed managing director Dick Penny said: “This is very good news for Watershed and for Bristol. It reinforces Bristol’s unique position as a centre for creative digital innovation, and it gives Watershed the support to develop its expertise as a national producer of cultural ideas and talent.
“At this time of economic turmoil it is essential that we continue to invest in artistic innovation and new talent. This is particularly important in the creative application of digital technologies.
“Bristol and Watershed are well placed to play a national development role working through collaborations across arts, creative and digital sectors. We welcome the confirmation of 3 year investment and look forward to working with Arts Council England and partners in Bristol and across the country.”
